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| Cricket World Cup |
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| amatullah |
| 03/17/03 at 19:43:54 |
| Cricket World Cup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Role of Sports This summers sees the largest event of the sporting calendar, the Olympic games. The athletes from Palestine are hurriedly getting ready to represent their 'nation' at Atlanta this summer. Although sport is viewed as apolitical, this brief article intends to show that this is not really the case. It can be argued that sport is sometimes used to further certain political aims. During the days when European nations sailed the oceans colonising various lands, the missionaries would accompany the colonialists. Christianity was taken not only to save the souls of the natives, but from the point of view of the colonialists, to 'drug' and preoccupy them with religion, whilst they looted their wealth. However in the Muslim lands, the missionaries met with little success. Not only that, but the occupation of the British met with physical resistance from the Muslims of India. The ulema like moulana Karanvi also fought, writing books refuting the baseless creed of the Christians to safeguard the ummah. Along with the missionaries, Britain also exported cricket to their empire. A sport, played only by England and her former colonies to the virtual exclusion of all others. Where Christianity failed cricket succeeded. Today cricket has been able to preoccupy the minds of the Muslims in Pakistan. The imaams who are suppose to awaken the ummah from it's slumber and encourage them to re-establish the Khilafah and perform jihad in Kashmir, instead make du'a for their cricketers to win. One Pakistani supporter declared with zeal, referring to a match with India, "This is JIHAD!". It seems to some that as long as their team win at cricket against the occupiers of Kashmir, the rape and slaughter in that land is avenged. Try telling that to a man whose mother has been raped by an Indian soldier. The kuffar have finally succeeded in confining Islam solely to the masaajid. They have also managed to cover up and hide the political nature of Islam, which was so clearly understood by the Muslims of India who faced British occupation. One can observe that sport is used by certain nations to strengthen ties with others nations, to open markets for their goods and also to preoccupy the masses whilst their land is being looted. South Africa is a case in point. During the era of apartheid, the oppressed blacks channelled their physical energies into political action in the hope of a better future. In the 'new' South Africa with its 'new' government and it's 'new' flag, major problems remain unsolved. The social fabric of the state is deteriorating fast. Crime is rampant. The murder rate is 800% higher than the world average. Poverty and the lack of basic needs still persist. In reality nothing has changed, society is still plagued with problems, the political system is pretty much the same. Instead of whites ruling and plundering the nation's wealth, there is a coalition government but Anglo-American continues to loot the nation's wealth. From the government's point of view, sport is proving to be a great diversion for the people, There exists a 'feel good factor' amongst the people and are thus less concerned about their problems because South Africa is winning at cricket, soccer and rugby, The youth now direct their energies into sport, hoping to become national heroes. AW, An article I wrote for the previous Olympics, which was never used. Could it be reworked for the current CRICKET WORLD CUP ?? MKP THE ROLE OF SPORTS This is not merely by accident. After Mandela came to power, Britain sent a delegation to South Africa which included British sporting heroes like Bobby Charlton and others. Funds were set aside to develop sporting talent and to erect new facilities. Western nations give thousands to so called 'third-world' countries for sport. It is well known that capitalist nations never given anything for nothing. This goes against their creed. So obviously they have something to gain. Sport is now being used in Palestine to take the jihad from the battlefield to the playing fields. To divert the youth from striving for paradise to striving for an Olympic medal. Integrating the Palestinian self rule area into the Olympics is the 'carrot' of the 'carrot and stick' approach for them accepting the so-called peace process. The Olympic solidarity committee will pay for nearly all of the Palestinian teams travel expense to Atlanta. Paying for the team's travel is far more beneficial for the so called 'Peace' process then fulfilling the basic needs of the Muslims in Palestine! Majed Abu Maraheel who is one of two who will be going to Atlanta to represent Palestine said, "If I run against an Israeli, I will not let my country down. Even if I have to pay with my blood". This sounds very much like the jihad the Pakistani cricket supporter declared. Sport is being actively used to set a new agenda for the Muslim youth. Role models are being created for the Muslim youth, to replace their current role models of Khalid bin Walid (RA). Dr Mustafa El-Masri, a Palestinian psychiatrist said referring to the Palestinian athletes, "It would be a great opportunity to help our children link their heroes with peace". The role of sport at the time of the Prophet (SAW) was to keep the Believers in a state of readiness for jihad. Their sports like archery, horse racing and wrestling were directly linked to jihad. Today sport is used to keep the Muslims away from Jihad. For some it has replaced jihad! |
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